About Flo

I’m Flourette “Flo” Ketner, candidate for the 7th District of the Virginia House ofDelegates, which includes all of Floyd, most of Pulaski, and southern MontgomeryCounties. I am a stay-at- home mother of three young children and have lived in the NewRiver Valley for over 25 years. I graduated from Floyd County High School and RadfordUniversity, where I majored in English.

I was raised by a disabled grandmother on a fixed income and my mother unfortunatelylost her battle with drug abuse. As a child, my grandmother found herself in the positionwhere she had to gain employment in order to care for us both. She became a librarianin Floyd and beginning at age 9 until I graduated High School, I helped as a volunteer tomake her job easier. When I started my first job at age 15, I always gave her mypaychecks to help with our household bills. I did this until age 19 and was out on myown.

As a member of my community, I experience the same ups and downs as everyone else. Ipay the same prices for my electric bills, I go to the same parks and community events,and I shop at the same stores. You’ll find me driving on the same roads and picking uptrash in parking lots. This is a community I am home in, and a community I feel aresponsibility to protect for us, our children, and those in need.

As a mother, I realize the unique challenges facing our children here in SouthwestVirginia. Our children deserve to have the same opportunities to become the peoplethey want to be the way I had growing up here. I want us to all have the ability to sleepat night knowing that when we wake up in the morning, we are going to have a warmplace to live, food on the table, and help when we need it.

I plan to bring these concerns with me to Richmond to ensure that we and our childrenhave the same opportunities as those living in northern Virginia so that we may acquirethe skills needed to become successful in the New River Valley. This is why I amadvocating for last mile broadband connectivity and will work to invest in economicdevelopment in the region. If elected to office, I will also stand against the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline, champion corporate finance and tax reform, and fight for therights we deserve as citizens.